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Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam

Highest listed crest 55.00 ftFlood stage 33.0 ft55 crests since 1936

The Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam crested at major flood stage 10 times among the 55 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1936 to 2024. The highest, 55.00 ft on March 18, 1936, was major flooding, 22.00 feet above flood stage. 11 other gauges on the Ohio River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 6 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
55.00 ft
March 18, 1936
Flood stage
33.0 ft
Major flooding from 38.0 ft
Crests at major
10
13th of 170 gauges in Pennsylvania
Most recent flood crest
April 4, 2024
36.00 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Beaver County
Pennsylvania

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam
Action stage23.330Mar 24, 2007The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)33.05Feb 17, 2018Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage36.05Apr 4, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage38.010Sep 19, 2004Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

55 crests from 1936 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam, 1936 to 2024 2030405060ft Flood stage 33.0 ftMajor 38.0 ft Mar 18, 1936: 55.00 ft, major floodingDec 31, 1942: 47.90 ft, major floodingDec 5, 1950: 37.70 ft, moderate floodingJan 28, 1952: 40.50 ft, major floodingOct 17, 1954: 43.00 ft, major floodingJan 23, 1959: 41.30 ft, major floodingApr 1, 1960: 36.20 ft, moderate floodingMar 6, 1963: 34.30 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1963: 33.30 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1964: 42.00 ft, major floodingMar 31, 1964: 34.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1966: 35.60 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1966: 42.00 ft, major floodingMar 7, 1967: 30.20 ft, action stageApr 3, 1970: 31.20 ft, action stageJun 24, 1972: 43.10 ft, major floodingFeb 25, 1975: 29.60 ft, action stageFeb 18, 1976: 29.20 ft, action stageApr 3, 1977: 26.50 ft, action stageJan 27, 1978: 27.30 ft, action stageMar 15, 1978: 26.50 ft, action stageMay 18, 1978: 26.10 ft, action stageJan 2, 1979: 27.80 ft, action stageFeb 26, 1979: 31.90 ft, action stageMar 6, 1979: 30.90 ft, action stageApr 10, 1980: 24.10 ft, action stageAug 19, 1980: 22.20 ft, below flood stageFeb 1, 1982: 24.30 ft, action stageMar 18, 1982: 24.30 ft, action stageMay 5, 1983: 32.10 ft, action stageFeb 15, 1984: 27.90 ft, action stageMar 13, 1985: 25.30 ft, action stageNov 6, 1985: 31.30 ft, action stageNov 17, 1985: 27.80 ft, action stageNov 29, 1985: 28.60 ft, action stageJan 2, 1986: 22.00 ft, below flood stageFeb 2, 1986: 30.00 ft, action stageFeb 20, 1986: 22.80 ft, below flood stageMar 16, 1986: 23.50 ft, action stageNov 27, 1986: 21.10 ft, below flood stageApr 8, 1987: 22.30 ft, below flood stageDec 19, 1990: 31.20 ft, action stageJan 1, 1991: 31.20 ft, action stageJan 19, 1996: 43.00 ft, major floodingMay 13, 1996: 27.80 ft, action stageMay 18, 1996: 24.60 ft, action stageJul 20, 1996: 29.90 ft, action stageSep 10, 2004: 27.80 ft, action stage; 19,100 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 2004: 41.00 ft, major flooding; 360,000 cubic feet per secondJan 7, 2005: 36.90 ft, moderate flooding; 300,000 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2007: 28.30 ft, action stage; 195,086 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2007: 24.20 ft, action stage; 156,025 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2018: 33.57 ft, minor flooding; 254,138 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2018: 37.49 ft, moderate flooding; 274,895 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2024: 36.00 ft, moderate flooding; 286,993 cubic feet per second Highest, 55.00 ft, Mar 18, 1936 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam 1930s: 1 1940s: 1 1950s: 4 1960s: 7 7 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 1 2000s: 2 2010s: 2 2020s: 1 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 55 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Ohio River at Montgomery Lock and Dam
1Mar 18, 193655.00+22.00Major—
2Dec 31, 194247.90+14.90Major—
3Jun 24, 197243.10+10.10Major—
4Oct 17, 195443.00+10.00Major—
5Jan 19, 199643.00+10.00Major—
6Mar 11, 196442.00+9.00Major—
7Mar 11, 196642.00+9.00Major—
8Jan 23, 195941.30+8.30Major—
9Sep 19, 200441.00+8.00Major360,000
10Jan 28, 195240.50+7.50Major—
11Dec 5, 195037.70+4.70Moderate—
12Sep 11, 201837.49+4.49Moderate274,895
13Jan 7, 200536.90+3.90Moderate300,000
14Apr 1, 196036.20+3.20Moderate—
15Apr 4, 202436.00+3.00Moderate286,993
16Feb 14, 196635.60+2.60Minor—
17Mar 6, 196334.30+1.30Minor—
18Mar 31, 196434.30+1.30Minor—
19Feb 17, 201833.57+0.57Minor254,138
20Mar 21, 196333.30+0.30Minor—
21May 5, 198332.10−0.90Action—
22Feb 26, 197931.90−1.10Action—
23Nov 6, 198531.30−1.70Action—
24Apr 3, 197031.20−1.80Action—
25Dec 19, 199031.20−1.80Action—
26Jan 1, 199131.20−1.80Action—
27Mar 6, 197930.90−2.10Action—
28Mar 7, 196730.20−2.80Action—
29Feb 2, 198630.00−3.00Action—
30Jul 20, 199629.90−3.10Action—
31Feb 25, 197529.60−3.40Action—
32Feb 18, 197629.20−3.80Action—
33Nov 29, 198528.60−4.40Action—
34Mar 16, 200728.30−4.70Action195,086
35Feb 15, 198427.90−5.10Action—
36Jan 2, 197927.80−5.20Action—
37Nov 17, 198527.80−5.20Action—
38May 13, 199627.80−5.20Action—
39Sep 10, 200427.80−5.20Action19,100
40Jan 27, 197827.30−5.70Action—
41Apr 3, 197726.50−6.50Action—
42Mar 15, 197826.50−6.50Action—
43May 18, 197826.10−6.90Action—
44Mar 13, 198525.30−7.70Action—
45May 18, 199624.60−8.40Action—
46Feb 1, 198224.30−8.70Action—
47Mar 18, 198224.30−8.70Action—
48Mar 24, 200724.20−8.80Action156,025
49Apr 10, 198024.10−8.90Action—
50Mar 16, 198623.50−9.50Action—

The worst floods along the Ohio River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Ohio River that crested above flood stage within a week.

March 18, 1936: 55.00 ft here, major flooding

December 31, 1942: 47.90 ft here, major flooding

June 24, 1972: 43.10 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Ohio River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Ohio River
AshlandKY52.074.21 ft, Jan 27, 19374
Belleville LockWV35.061.80 ft, Mar 29, 191315
CairoIL40.061.72 ft, May 2, 201119
Cannelton Lock and DamKY42.060.80 ft, Jan 27, 19378
CincinnatiOH52.066.20 ft, Mar 11, 19641
Clifty CreekIN451.0475.90 ft, Jan 27, 19371
Dashields Lock and DamPA25.042.80 ft, Mar 18, 19365
East LiverpoolWV14.029.90 ft, Mar 19, 193611
EvansvilleIN42.053.75 ft, Jan 31, 19371
GolcondaIL40.062.60 ft, Feb 2, 19373
Hannibal Lock and DamOH35.041.90 ft, Jun 25, 19722
HendersonKY36.043.08 ft, Apr 12, 20250
IrontonOH52.054.67 ft, Feb 19, 20180
J.T. Myers Lock and DamKY37.064.40 ft, Feb 1, 19371
Lloyd Greenup LockKY54.064.50 ft, Mar 31, 19133
Marietta PumphouseOH35.058.30 ft, Mar 29, 19133
Markland LowerKY51.076.10 ft, Jan 26, 19371
MaysvilleKY50.075.60 ft, Jan 27, 19372
McAlpine LowerKY55.085.44 ft, Jan 27, 19374
McAlpine UpperKY23.052.15 ft, Jan 27, 19377
Meldahl DamOH51.076.00 ft, Jan 26, 19373
Montgomery Lock and Dam this gaugePA33.055.00 ft, Mar 18, 193610
MoundsvilleWV37.057.90 ft, Mar 19, 19363
Mount VernonIN35.059.21 ft, Feb 1, 19372
New Cumberland Lock and DamOH36.050.20 ft, Dec 31, 194215
Newburgh Lock and DamKY38.056.60 ft, Jan 31, 19371
Olmsted Lock and Dam HeadwaterKY36.048.20 ft, Feb 21, 20201
OwensboroKY40.054.80 ft, Jan 29, 19375
PaducahKY39.060.60 ft, Feb 2, 19377
ParkersburgWV36.045.20 ft, Mar 12, 19645
Pike Island Lock and DamWV37.047.70 ft, Mar 11, 19645
PittsburghPA22.046.00 ft, Mar 18, 193622
Point PleasantWV40.062.80 ft, Mar 30, 191325
PomeroyOH46.068.80 ft, Apr 1, 191334
PortsmouthOH50.053.78 ft, Apr 7, 20250
Powhatan PointOH37.053.30 ft, Mar 19, 19365
R C Byrd LockWV50.069.60 ft, Jan 27, 19379
Racine LockWV41.050.23 ft, Sep 20, 20043
ShawneetownKY33.065.64 ft, Jan 30, 19377
Smithland Lock and DamKY40.054.83 ft, May 6, 20114
SteubenvilleOH36.044.00 ft, Jan 20, 19961
Tell CityIN38.056.95 ft, Jan 29, 19376
WellsburgWV36.054.60 ft, Mar 19, 19369
WellsvilleOH11.020.90 ft, Jan 20, 19963
WheelingWV36.045.40 ft, Jan 20, 19963
Willow Island LockWV37.044.78 ft, Sep 19, 20042
HuntingtonOH50.057.52 ft, Mar 5, 19970

Other gauges in Beaver County

Flood gauges in Beaver County
Beaver Falls15.017.40 ft, Mar 27, 19130
Zelienople10.018.17 ft, Sep 18, 20041
Moffatts Mill13.014.29 ft, Sep 18, 20040

Beaver County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Pennsylvania

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MGYP1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.